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The Comparative Effects of Independence on Trade

Author

Listed:
  • Emmanuelle Lavallée

    (LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Julie Lochard

    (ERUDITE - Equipe de Recherche sur l’Utilisation des Données Individuelles en lien avec la Théorie Economique - UPEC UP12 - Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 - Université Gustave Eiffel)

Abstract

Empirical evidence suggests that belonging to an empire favours trade by lowering transaction costs and establishing preferential trade agreements. Does the end of an empire invert this effect, and if so, through which channels? This paper uses an original dataset to explore the impact of independence on former colonies' bilateral trade over the 1948-2007 period. We show large differences across empires. Whereas independence reduces the trade (imports and exports) between former French colonies and their coloniser, as well as with other colonies of the same empire, we do not find any comparable effect for former British colonies. We attribute this finding to the particularly protectionist trade policy implemented by France during the colonial era, and we are able to rule out alternative explanations related to transaction costs. We also find that after independence, all former colonies trade more with third countries, and we relate this result to the geographical diversification of trade.

Suggested Citation

  • Emmanuelle Lavallée & Julie Lochard, 2015. "The Comparative Effects of Independence on Trade," Post-Print hal-01548151, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01548151
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2014.11.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Mbassi, Christophe Martial & Messono, Omang Ombolo, 2023. "Historical technology and current economic development: Reassessing the nature of the relationship," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    2. Tania El Kallab & Cristina Terra, 2018. "French Colonial Trade Patterns and European Settlements," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 60(3), pages 291-331, September.
    3. Emmanuelle Lavallée & Julie Lochard, 2022. "International trade and face-to-face diplomacy," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 158(4), pages 987-1010, November.
    4. Alejandro Ayuso-Díaz & Antonio Tena-Junguito, 2024. "US and Japan rivalry in Philippine interwar import manufactures market. Power politics, trade cost and competitiveness," Working Papers 0265, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    5. John Brown & Xenia Matschke & Juan Rene Rojas Rodriguez, 2025. "International cocoa trading arrangements between industrialized and developing countries 1951-1999: a structural gravity analysis," Research Papers in Economics 2025-12, University of Trier, Department of Economics.
    6. Didier, Laurent, 2018. "Economic diplomacy: The “one–China policy” effect on trade," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 223-243.
    7. Laurent Didier & Pamina Koenig, 2019. "Has China replaced colonial trade?," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 155(2), pages 199-226, May.
    8. Bienek, Jan, 2024. "The effect of the nature of the decolonisation process on postcolonial trade: a comparative study of Senegal’s peaceful path to independence and the Algerian war of independence," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 125846, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    9. Teresa L. Cyrus, 2021. "Why Do Countries Form Regional Trade Agreements? A Discrete-Time Survival Analysis," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 417-434, April.
    10. Omang Ombolo Messono & Fred EKA & Fabrice Assoumou Zambo, 2025. "Elite quality and the pathway to prosperity: a cross-country mediation analysis," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 5(6), pages 1-43, June.
    11. Witte, Caroline T. & Burger, Martijn J. & Pennings, Enrico, 2020. "When political instability devaluates home-host ties," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F54 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Colonialism; Imperialism; Postcolonialism

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